Technical Reports: Hydrologic Bioretention and Performance and Design Criteria for Cold Climates

Available at www.ndwrcdp.org

Fact Sheet
Full Report

A three year research study conducted simulated snowmelt events to measure the infiltration responses of four existing bioretention cells under Minnesota winter conditions. The study revealed a dramatic range of performance including rapid infiltration during varying cold climate conditions and proved that three of the four bioretention cells were hydrologically active during winter most of the time. A factsheet is also available that translates the study findings into practical design, installation and maintenance recommendations that stormwater professionals can easily apply to optimize the hydrologic performance of bioretention cells for successful operation under cold (and warm) climate conditions.

A Water Environment Research Foundation (WERF) grant funded the study.

The study findings have been presented at several professional conferences:

2008 Water Resources Conference
2009 IECA Conference
2009 MECA Conference
2009 ASCE Cold Regions Engineering Conference
Bioretention of Simulated Snowmelt: Cold Climate Performance and Design Criteria
2009 StormCon Conference
Winter Bioretention System Infiltration Study